If this wasn't a true story, and all caught on tape, you wouldn't believe it was real. But, here it is on this TV program called "Shootout," which aired in the mid 2000's on the History Network. Well, that name is appropriate. This has to be the longest and most amazing shootout in the streets in the history of the United States.
Two men, armed to the teeth a several Ak-47s, total body armor, M-16 rifles, other rifles and handguns complete with over 3,000 runs of ammunition, both went in to rob a bank just outside of Los Angeles on Feb. 28, 1997. We see a re-enactment of the robbery part inside the bank, but once the thieves get outside, the footage is real.....and unbelievable! It's non-stop shooting and by the time the TV show is over, you're exhausted.
These two thugs, Larry Phillips and Emil Matasareanu, prepared for months to rob the Bank Of America branch for big bucks but the theft went awry when the supposed big haul wasn't there. Somebody tipped off the alarm and police were waiting for them when the two guys exited the bank. However, it was far from over as these guys, with their home-made armor and machine guns, just blazed away while nobody could bring them down. S.W.A.T. was then brought in Do you remember the shootout scene in the 1995 film "Heat?" Well, the criminals here said they got a few ideas from that movie.
No sense spoiling things by going into detail. Suffice to say you have to see this shootout to believe it. There's never been anything like it in American history, excluding war.
One good thing: after this, the police in Los Angeles were armed and protected a lot better for future violent encounters.
